There’s no denying that the SUV is the most sought-after vehicle in the automotive marketplace. With so many makes and models on the road, determining which one is the best bet for you and your family can be a daunting task. Manufacturers are quick to note which features, designs, and entertainment systems are in place, but this is only a glimpse of what owning a vehicle is all about. Maintenance and fuel economy are just as important to the purchase of any vehicle. Nissan has a long-standing favorable reputation with all of these items. If you’re in the market for new or used SUVs for sale, why not go with the brand that’s been a consistent force in innovation and customer satisfaction? We know we certainly would.
Nissan Rogue
Nissan has done their best to offer their customers a pinnacle of perfection in the immensely popular subcompact SUV class. The Nissan Rogue is powered by a 1.5L Turbo I-3 engine. Despite its small size, it makes 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty of pep to get the Rogue around town. This engine is mated to a CVT, which is tailor-made for the city-dwelling driver who has to deal with the infrequent consistency of city driving patterns. The Rogue, in front-wheel drive trim, offers a city MPG of 30 and a highway rating of 37 for a combined total average of 33. This equates to $1,650 in annual fuel costs. The advantages aren’t limited to fuel economy, either. The Rogue’s annual repair costs don’t hit the $1,000 mark until its seventh year on the road. In this same amount of time, the chances of the vehicle needing a major repair are just barely over 13%. This makes the Rogue the ideal long-term investment for the city driver.
Nissan Pathfinder
A major demographic that has come to rely on the SUV in its various sizes is the modern American family. A vehicle that offers seating, storage, and safety is too good for the concerned parent to pass on. After all, that’s the trifecta of what families need most.
Arriving next on our look at the cost-effective offerings from Nissan is the Pathfinder. Despite its name that conjures up images of exploring the Amazon, the Pathfinder is more tuned to family life than the frontier one. With seating for seven and a standard 3.5L V6 making up to 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, the Pathfinder also offers a generous towing capacity of 6,000 lbs when the situation warrants it. Despite being a midsize SUV, the Pathfinder still finds a way to be economically viable. Fuel economy of 20 MPG in the city and 27 on the highway make the vehicle more than ideal for the family getting around town. Much like the Rogue, the Pathfinder’s annual repair costs stay below the threshold of $1,000 for the first six years of ownership, allowing you to save some much-needed pennies for the college fund.
Nissan Kicks
Because the purpose of this article is to focus on the cost-effective nature of the Nissan SUV fleet, we would be doing a great disservice if we didn’t take the time to discuss the Nissan Kicks. The most affordable SUV made by Nissan, with a starting MSRP of only $20,790, the 1.6L I-4 engine in the Kicks makes 122 horsepower, 114 lb-ft of torque, and operates with a CVT, making the vehicle ideal for the driver who has a keen eye on cutting down fuel costs. Like the Rogue, it possesses a combined MPG of 33, with the vehicle achieving 31 MPG in the city and 36 on the highway. The EPA projects an annual fuel cost of $1,250. With its smaller size, the Kicks has no trouble maneuvering around the city limits and finding that minuscule parking space. The Kicks’ annual repair costs are quite admirable, as they don’t eclipse the $1,000 threshold until its eighth year on the road. If you’re a driver who’s on a budget and looking to make an important investment regarding your next vehicle, we can’t recommend this gem enough.
Nissan Murano
One common assumption when purchasing a vehicle is that something big on style has a lack of substance, and comes with a hefty price tag. Well, this is an assumption that’s very much correct. The Nissan Murano is the ideal compromise between performance, style, and cost-effectiveness that so many drivers have been coveting for generations.
The Murano benefits from a sleek exterior style that appeals to our love of aesthetics and a performance-oriented powertrain that isn’t too draining on the bank account. Similar to the Pathfinder, the Murano is powered by a 3.5L V6 that propels the vehicle forward with 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Like most of Nissan’s vehicles, it also comes with a CVT to assist in conservative fuel consumption. Speaking of which, the fuel economy, which is rated 20 in the city and 28 on the highway, applies to both FWD and AWD drivetrains. This is good news for drivers who have to deal with winter weather and need some additional traction in the slick stuff. During its first six years of being on the road, the Murano’s annual repair costs stay below $800, and the probability for a major repair doesn’t eclipse 13%. With so much to offer, the Murano is both thrifty and stylish, which is a combination that seldom appears in this day and age.
Average Insurance Costs
Another important aspect to mention is the cost of insurance when it comes to owning a Nissan SUV. While factors such as maintenance and fuel economy are rather simple to gauge, as both can be easily documented, the process of evaluating insurance premiums is slightly more difficult. This is because there are a lot of contributing factors that go into how much any one person pays. While in many cases it depends on your insurance carrier, your age, location, driving record, and credit history all have a sizable impact on how much you’ll be paying. On average, a driver with a good record can expect to pay anywhere from $1,200 to $1,400 a year for insurance on a Nissan SUV. This is considerably less than the industry average, and one more reason why Nissan SUVs are some of the most cost-effective vehicles on the market.
A Better Way of Living Through Cost-Effective Vehicles
There’s no denying the fact that transportation is a necessity for living in the modern world. While some vehicles attempt to sway your better judgment by bringing out an array of bells and whistles, Nissan vehicles give no pretense as to why they’re a worthwhile investment. Not only do they allow for impressive fuel economy that allows drivers to go much further for less, but they also cost very little to maintain. As long as you have your oil changed and tires rotated every 7,500 miles, and take good care of the basics, a Nissan SUV will last for many miles and years and treat you just as good as you treat it. There’s no better time to get behind the wheel of one and experience this dedication to quality.
